Team for Pak series to be picked in Feb 3rd week

Chennai:The Indian team for the Test matches against Pakistan will be selected by third week of next month, BCCI Secretary S K Nair said today.

"The domestic tournaments are in full bloom and the selectors will witness all the three (Duleep trophy, Challenger and Deodhar) games before meeting to select the team for the Test matches," Nair told PTI over phone from Thiruvanathapuram.

Nair said players like Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan and Sachin Tendulkar would feature in the domestic matches.

"All these three and other Indian seniors would be seen in action in the Deodhar Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Challenger series matches and the final team would be picked by February 21," he said.

As for the venues selected for the series against Pakistan, Nair said that "We have selected the venues based on the rotation formula of the Board.

"We have also informed the Union Government about the venues and once we get the concurrence from the Government the dates and other formalities would be finalised."

"We will also await information from the Pakistan Board on the venues," he added.

Pakistan were to play three Test matches and five one-dayers during the tour in February-March.